Introduction:

Nathanael, with his extensive background in acquisitions and operations, embarked on a new venture in independent sponsors with Spearhead. This case study delves into Nathanael's experience attending the iGlobal Forum event, exploring the challenges he faced before the event, his overall experience, key takeaways, and the impact it had on his professional development.

What challenges were you facing before attending the iGlobal event?

Going into the IGlobal Forum event, we believed we could likely become an Independent Sponsor, or at the very least, partner with existing Independent Sponsors, given our strong deal origination capabilities as a buy-side advisor. Our research and conversations with some leading voices in the ecosystem were helpful pre-conference, but we still needed to substantiate that hypothesis. IGlobal Forum provided the venue for answering that key question. 

How was your overall experience? What aspects of the event did you find most valuable?

The experience was eye-opening and very educational. We underestimated how dynamic and established this asset class already was. Most participants were seasoned and eager to help.  

What I found most valuable at this event was the purposeful connections. Everyone I met seemed to genuinely appreciate and want to contribute to the ecosystem's growth.  

It is very much a collaborative atmosphere. It was encouraging at a time when we are looking to establish ourselves in this space yet still don't have all the answers.

What is your key takeaway?

My key takeaways are 1. relationships still matter, and 2. the IS community still has so much runway to grow. There’s still plenty of room to get in on the ground floor and make meaningful connections.  

A specific moment that resonated with me was the roundtable discussions. As someone who has bought and sold companies, having a group of individuals who understand M&A, can warn of the pitfalls, and give meaningful advice, is helpful. This is tangible advice and benchmarks I wish I had gotten on my first few deals, earlier in my career. 

What was the most important outcome of attending the event?

The most important outcome of attending this event has been learning what type of deals capital sources and ISPs want to see (we came up with 3 deals, so we tested those), and what economics they are willing to give and take. 

“Like most things in life, strong relationships are crucial to success. IGlobal Forum’s event provides the opportunity to begin and develop relationships that can change one’s life.”

- Nathanael Williams, Manager, Spearhead Corp Dev

Nathanael's experience at the iGlobal Forum event epitomizes the transformative power of immersive learning and networking opportunities. The event broadened Nathanael's understanding of the independent sponsorship landscape and reaffirmed the importance of purposeful connections in driving professional growth. As Nathanael reflects on his experience, he recognizes the collaborative ethos that permeates the ecosystem, serving as a beacon of encouragement for those embarking on similar journeys.

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